Automatic stabilizer for flying-machines.



' M. RAABE.

AUTOMATIC STABILIZEB. FOB. FLYING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APEJQ, 1911.

1,028,;782. Patented June 4, 1912.

UN T D STATES arnum OFFICE.

MAX RAABE, or cnolviznne IN THE TAUNUS, GERMANY.

AUTOMATIC STABILIZER FOR FLYING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom (it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAX RAABE, lieutenant a. D.', a subject of the German Emperor,-

and resident of Cronberg in the 'Taunus,

Germany, with the post-oflice address Hartmuthstrass'e 3, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Sta-b1l1zers for'Flying' lvlachinegof which the follow ing is-a specification.

The present invention relates to aeroplanes, and has for its purpose to provide an aeroplane having a plurality of planes .independently mounted, .and. adapted to be automatically adjustable'through the direction. of the wind currents whereby to stabilize the aeroplane during its flight.

- The invention further contemplates an arrangement wherein the supporting planes may be manually positioned for the purpose of producing a parachute effect, tov the end of permitting a gradual descent 1n the event of the aeroplane propelling means hecomin disabled. 1

W'it these andother objects in view the invention consists in the novel details. of

construction and combinations of partsmore fully hereinafter disclosed and particularly pointed'out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification in which like numerals designate "like parts in all the views -:Figure 1 indicates diagrammatically one of the supporting planes and its associated parts; Fig. 2 is a'similarv view showing the parts in a different position;

tically'disposed vanes pr rudders l, 5 and 6. Said planes 1, 2 and 3 are disposed in triangular relation and are rigidly connected to disks or planes 7, Sand 9, disposed a'b'ove said planes and forming angles with the surfaces ofthe planesfl, 2 and 3. The planes or disks 7, 8 and 9 are always disposed on an incline to thehorizontal, and are rotatably mounted on axles 10, which axles are attaclied at right angles to the planes or disks 7, 8 and 9, and are themselves supported by the frame arms 11., The'arms 11 are pivotally mounted'on a horizontally -disposed I triangular shaped frame 12, andfsaid frame 12 has fixedly mounted thereon a vertically I disposed rod 13. A .nut 14 isslidably mount-1,

frame arms '11 through the mediur'n of links v ed on the rod 13, andiis connectedwith the 15, of which thereare three, 71, v e..one,'for each of the supporting planes 1, 2 and 3. The displacement of the nut 14 may be effected by any suitable device (not shown),

and through which operation the relative angular positions of the axles 1O are'changed,"

thereby producing corresponding inclinations to the"planesf1,2 and 3." j i The aeroplane is provided with ,the usual propeller 16 and 'may otherwise'be of any suitable design in its general construction.

but with which the presentinvention isnot concerned. The axles 10 allow theplanestd assume any angle about the vertical;"ifea chv axle 10- is inclined, for example as shown in .Patented June 4, 1912.

. Application filed April 19, 1911. Serial No. 622,108.

Figs. 1 and 2, any rotation of theseyairles'.

.alters the. inclination of the {supporting 1 planes with respect to the horizontal." In

Fig. 2 the supporting plane has been turned-'80 through half a revolution compared'to Fig.

1. Fig. 1 shows the inclination of the supporting planes, when the front surfaeeis at right angles "to the direction of motion.

After the half revolut-ion'theiinclinationof the planes isz ero, that is to say the supporting planes arehorizonta-l and they have no changes in passing from the posit-ion of Fig. 1. to that of Fig. 2; If side winds arise to 'turn the supporting planes in the-manner described above, so that they take up the position shown in do' ted lines in Flg. 3,

lifting force. 'The inclination. gradually their inclination to the horizon and con'se-Y quently their lifting power has diminished.

The machine can encounter a squall with- 1 out danger of capsizing, but on the other hand-a perfectly automatic stabilizing action takes place so as to render the machine indifferentto any gusts of wind. Also by the displacementof the nut 14 on the rod 13 such an inclination can be given to the supporting planes that the whole machine will act as a para-chute. from any cause to make a'rapid descent the planes can be given such an inclination that the machine acts as a parachute.

Ifthe machine is flying in the direction of the arrow ,a'and meets a side wind blowing in the direction of the arrow 6, the supporting planes turn like weathercocksunder the action of-the tail planes 4,.5. 6 in the Should it be necessary resultant direction indicated for example by the arrow 0. .The front surfaces of the supporting planes are no longer at right claims.

angles but inclined to the direction of flight, depending upon the lateral. component of the 4nd, so that the supporting action of the planes is much greater than if their front surfaces; remained at right angles to meidirection of motion It is obviousrthat those skilled inthe artmay vary the details of construction and arrangement of parts Without departing from the spirit of my invention, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to such features except as inay be required by the What'I claim is:"" v v i A 1. In an aeroplane, the combination of a suitable frame, a plurality of separate and independent supporting plane s, a Vertically disposed axis on which each of said planes is mounted to rotate on said frame, and a vertically disposed vane on each of said planes adapted to effect rotation of its respective plane through the medium of air currents, substantially as described.

2. In 'an aeroplane, the combination of a suitable frame, a plurality of supporting planes, a member on which each of said planes is secured and at an angle relatively thereto, a vertically disposed axis for securing each of said members to said frame; and a vertically disposed vane secured to each of saidfplanes and adapted to rotate its respec- .;tive plane on its axis through the medium of air currents, substantially as described.

In an 'aeroplane,,the combination of a suitable :frame, a plurality of supporting planesidisposed in triangular. relation, a plurality of disks disposed above said planes, 4o

means securing each of said planes to each of said disks at an angle relatively thereto, a

vertically disposed axis connecting each of said disks With the supporting frame, members movably mounted on the frame and having connection With said vertically 'disposed axes, and operable to actuate the latter, and-a vertically disposed vane secured to each of said planes and adapted to rotate its respective plane on its axis through the medium of air currents, substantially as de- 1 onsaid shaft, links connecting said slidable member with the supporting axes of said disks, and operable to adjust the position of said axes, and a vertically disposed vane secured to 'each of said planesand adapted to rotate its respective plane on its axis through the medium of air currents, substantially as described. b

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name in presence of two Witnesses, this lOth day of April 1911.

MAX RAABE.

. Witnesses:

LUDWIG BRABEL, MA'rHILDE J news. 

